BRYAN COUNTY, OK -- Three days after banning swimmers from two beaches, the Army Corps says it is now safe to go in the water.
The Army Corps of Engineers says they have re-opened two beaches that had been closed on Tuesday due to blue-green algae.
The East Burns Run and West Burns Run swimming beaches were temporarily closed after test results showed high algae cell counts, but a second measure of toxins came back at safe levels.
"We temporarily closed the two areas down until we could get the toxicity data back, which takes just a little bit longer than our cell count data," says B.J. Parkey with the Army Corps of Engineers.
Two new samples showed 0.2 and 0.3 micrograms of algae-related toxin near Burns Run, well below the state danger level of 20 micrograms, Parkey says. Both measures have to be high to keep a warning in place.
"Why would it be unsafe yesterday, and safe today? That's kind of scary," says Denise Lair, who is visiting from Collin County.
But one family from Durant was not concerned. They headed into the water at East Burns Run camping area after hearing last night that the ban was lifted.
On Tuesday, the Corps reported that test results from July 17 at Burns Run East showed cell counts over 1.5 million cells per milliliter of water. At Burns Run West, a July 20 sample showed blue-green algae cells about 1.3 million cells per milliliter.
Swimmers at Lake of the Arbuckles in Murray County were also warned about blue-green algae this week.
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